Pages

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Pumpkin Ice Cream and Pepita Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches

I have no idea where this week went; I was having so much fun working on a special Halloween project for none other than the Queen of Cake Pops Bakerella that I lost all track of time. I can't wait to tell you all about it and share it with you when I'm finished. But keeping up with the extra hours I've been putting in left me in need of a little something sweet. "I need sugar" my body screamed! Maybe yours doesn't scream that, but mine does.

I've been working on Halloween decorations and costumes overdrive and a little ice cream and cookies sounded so good. I spent a good two hours going back and forth over which one to make, when I decided, why argue about it I'll have both. I'm pretty good at problem solving I must say.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a 3" biscuit or cookie cutter as a guide, trace 12 circles on the paper. Turn the sheet of parchment over.

Grind the nuts with 1/4 cup of the confectioners' sugar in a food processor until a fine nut flour forms; do not allow the mixture to become a paste. Add the remaining 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar and pulse just until incorporated. Sift to remove any large pieces.

Whip the egg whites and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer until frothy. (Or use a hand mixer.) While the mixer is running, slowly add the granulated sugar. Beat on high speed until the meringue is shiny and holds medium peaks, about 5 minutes.

Fold 1/3 of the whites into the pepita mixture at a time and add food coloring, fold until no more white is showing.

Fit a pastry bag with a 1/4" tip or a freezer bag with the tip cut off. Pipe the batter in circles starting from the center and working to the outside.

Let the cookies sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to dry.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through, until they have risen slightly, remove and let cool completely.

To assemble the sandwiches:

Place 6 macarons upside down and add a scoop of softened ice cream on top and a cookie on top of that and slowly press down. Roll in the chopped pepitas and wrap in plastic wrap and put in the freezer.

The recipe said it makes 12 cookies, but I ended up with quite a few more than that, oh well the more the merrier when it comes to cookies.

Did I mention the Queen was hungry and when she ate one of her subjects the rest of her court went running to the freezer for cover?

Hey Gina! Now where did you come up with pumpkin ice cream??? Gorgeous ice cream sandwiches, I could have seriously used one of these beauties tonight. I'm getting myself together for the big trip so will have to wait to lunch with you upon my return;-) I am putting together a group for baking and lunching in December will FB you with all the details;-)

vivid indeed, these are brilliant!!!!! And I can't wait to attempt those sour cream and chive crackers after the baby comes too....they sound delicious. I was marveling at the photos of the waterfalls and all those beautiful gems....life really does move so quickly, and it is surely no coincidence that you started blogging sweet bella, and I am convinced it is SHEER PROVIDENCE that our worlds have collided....and I am ever so blessed that it has...sending much love to you tonight

Pepita macarons and Pumpkin ice-cream...what, is the world coming to an end? LOL, no it's just you, Gina, turning our worlds upside down with your amazing creations! When my body screams SUGAR, I tend to dip my head in the sugar jar, not come up with something as beautiful as this :-).

Do you know that everytime I come over here, I count my blessings that you're not boring? Well, I do. And you are anything BUT, my friend!

I'm going to be out of town for Halloween and I'm not dealing with costumes this year! I told Liv that with all of the $ I spent on dance costumes last year she will just have to choose one of those. It was only a few years ago that I discovered just how much I love peppitas, and just yesterday I tried Trader Joe's Pumpkin Ice cream and WOW! Yep... I'll take one of these!!

Pepita Macaron Ice cream sandwiches?...Wow, Gina!I've never even heard of these gems, much to my amazement...not even seen these, or of course, not to even imagine how they taste!Sheer genius, and totally droolworthy amazing:DDDLovely photos, as well!xoxo

Those are ridiculous!! (I mean that in the best possible way, of course). Love the inclusion of pepitas, which I've grown rather addicted to lately.

Also, wanted to let you know I loved your spooky ghost crackers so much I included them in my recent Blogger Potluck post (http://www.muchtomydelight.com/2011/10/blogger-party-potluck-spooky-supper.html). They were too cute to pass up!